PIA Press Release2006/10/10

DSWD ties up with Metro Manila public hospitals

Quezon City (10 October) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) formalized its alliance recently with eight (8) government hospitals in Metro Manila to provide free or discounted medical services to indigent clients from centers and institutions of DSWD.

Social Welfare and Development Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral signed the memorandum of agreement with the heads of the participating hospitals, namely: Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, San Lazaro Hospital, Tondo Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Pasig City General Hospital, Taguig-Pateros District Hospital and Ospital ng Makati.

Among the free or discounted services that may be extended to the clients are professional services, ECG and X-ray, therapy sessions, surgeries, other therapeutic procedures and hospital stay.

There are 60 DSWD-run centers and institutions nationwide which provide residential care, protection, and rehabilitation to underprivileged and disadvantaged children, youth, women, older persons and persons with disabilities.

In the first six months of 2006 alone, the DSWD has served a total of 9,455 clients who were provided 673,380 person days of service.

All of these patients are destitute and are wards of the State, thus, are eligible for free or discounted services not only from the DSWD but other agencies of government, such as our government hospitals.

“I am very optimistic about our partnership with the DSWD,” said Dr. Victor Dela Cruz, chief of Tondo Medical Center. “This project is commendable and I know it will help our most needy fellowmen,” Dr. Dela Cruz added.

Secretary Cabral said, “This is the first time in the history of the DSWD that we formally signed an agreement with our partner-hospitals.” The Secretary added that the partnership can be justly called as “cooperative relationship.”

The DSWD is negotiating with other hospitals for the grant of similar discount or free services. (DSWD–Social Marketing Service) [top]